Pre-spotting machine



Jan. 10, 1961 R. MCROBERTS PRE-SPOTTING MACHINE Filed oct.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.,

205009 MEaber/g ATTORNEYs Jan. 10, 1961 R. MCROBERTS PRESPOTTING MACHINE2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Filed Oct. 3, 1958 INVENTOR- Mpfaberdi.

Poscos ATTORNEYS United States Patent 07 PRE-SPOTTING MACHINE RoscoeMcRoberts, 2119 Pollack Ave., Evansville, Ind.

Filed Oct. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 765,109

5 Claims. (Cl. 239-353) This invention relates generally to apparatusused in commercial dry cleaning establishments. More particularly, theinvention has reference to a pre-spotting machine, used for spottingclothes before they are dry cleaned, and for spotting re-runs after theyhave been cleaned.

By way of background, it may be noted that in dry cleaningestablishments, it is common to use a spotting board such as, forexample, that type of spotting board employed for touch-up work afterthe clothes have been cleaned. A spotting board of this type is shown,for example in Patent 2,670,621, issued to W. C. Glover, Jr.

The use of such a machine is Well known for touch-up Work, after thegarments have been cleaned. However, such a machine is not designed tofili an existing need, with respect to spotting and spraying cleaningsolvent on the garments either before they are cleaned, or in the eventthey need to be recleaned. In other words, a machine such as that shownin the specified patent has a particular, important purpose in drycleaning establishments, but this purpose does not extend to thespotting of garments before dry cleaning, or the spotting of rerunsafter the garments have been cleaned, that is, garments that must berecleaned.

The present invention comprises a machine usable in the lattersituations, it being understood that efficient and wholly satisfactorydry cleaning work can only be performed where a dry cleaningestablishment has machines each designed for discharging a particular,important purpose. The use of any machine for a plurality of functions,that is, functions in excess of that for which the machine wasspecifically designed, of necessity results in poor work and resultantcustomer dissatisfaction.

With respect to machines having the same purpose as that of the presentinvention, the machine must be capable of spraying various mixtures, asfor example, a mixture of steam and air; a mixture of water, gassolvent, and dry cleaning soap; or a mixture of gas solvent and drycleaning soap alone, that is, without the Water.

Machines for this purpose are known, but none -of them has sufiicientcontrol over the air, steam, water and gas, and dry cleaning soap. Oneimportant object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide amachine having maximum, easily and minutely regulated control over theadmission of the respective ingredients of a selected mixture.

A more specific object is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed having a particularly effective control of the amount of wateradded to the cleaning solvent and soap, should water be desired. Ofcourse, adding water to the gas solvent and soap is not new in and ofitself, since almost all cleaning formuias in commercial use today usewater. Gas alone will not carry water, but by "adding dry cleaning soapfor that purpose the water is carried through the cleaning cycle, and asa result many spots are removed that are non-soluble in gas and soapalone. 7

working relationship.

Frame it also includes ahorizontally extending pedal support bar 23extending from fitting 20 in perpendicular Patented Jan. 10,

So far as conventional machines are concerned, one machine is known thatuses a single tank having a mixture of gas, soap, and water, saidmixture being forced to a, Cissell gun or equivalent discharge device.The dis advantage of a machine having this characteristic is that if themachine is out of operation for a period of time, the water settles inthe tank, going to the bottom there} of, as a result of which one doesnot spray an even mixture, but rather, sprays water alone.

Another practice is to use a board having the approximate shape of anironing board, with the soap and solvent being dispensed to the garmentfrom shaker bot tles, after which the garment is manually brushed. Ali:other arrangement uses a tank over which a boardiis disposed. In such anarrangement, an exposed mixture of the soap and solvent is provided,into which a brush is dipped, after which the brush is applied to' theginment, with surplus soap and solvent draining into the tank.

Another important object is to provide an arrangement which willeliminate the makeshift structures described immediately above, andwhich will incorporate a vacuum for pulling the excess mixture out ofthe garment.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the type described, asingle gun out of which one can spray a substantial variety of mixturesaccording to the demands of the particular situation, with the workerbeing permitted swift, easy, and wholly accurate control over themixture, both with respect to selecting the ingredients of the mixtureand with respect to selecting the relativ PR portion of saidingredients.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claimsappended thereto, and from the annexed drawings, in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout the several views, andwherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine according to the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective View of the controlvalve assembly of the machine; and Figure 3 is an enlarged endelevationalview of the machine as seen from the right of Figure 1.

Referring to drawings in detail, my machine includes a support framegenerally designated at 10, having a horizontal, transversely arrangedbase bar 11 connected at one end to a support fitting 12 to which iswelded a floor-engaging flange 14. A flanged fitting 16 is secured tothe other end of bar 11, and connected to the fitting 16 is anelongated, vertically extending standard or post 18, The fittings areapertured to receive bolts or the like, not shown, whereby the devicemay be anchored tothe floor. A connecting fitting 20 intermediate theends of bar 11 is secured to the lower end of a vertical supportingstandard 22. Thus, the frame 10 maybe formed from a plurality of lengthsof pipe material, and from ,pip fittings, all of which are conventionalin andof themselves. Frame 10 is disposed in a vertical plane, at oneend or the device, and obviously, the particular shape Of the frame 14could be varied, without departure from the spirit of the invention, aslong as all thevarious working components of the device are properlysupported ther on in their assigned positions and in theirpredeterminedj relation to the bar 11, though in a horizontal plane common to that of bar 11. Pedal support bar 23,- at the end thereof remotefrom fitting 20, ;has a collar integral or otherwise made rigid with adepending support lgz25 (see Figure 1), so that the frame 10 has athree-point engagement with the-supportingsurfacefi I a .Fixedly mountedupon the horizontal har 113 f the frame, between the posts 18, 22, arevertically disposed,

elongated tanks 24, 26 respectively of cylindrical formation; Theoutlets of the tanks are at the 'lower ends thereof, and have beendesignated at 28, 30 respectively, the outlet 28 being valved as shownto best advantage in Figure 3. The valve is manually operable, and isadapted to provide a regulated discharge of the contents of the tank 24.

The tank 24 contains water, while tank 26 contains a mixture of cleaningsolvent and dry cleaning soap. These may be any of various well knowncommercial products, widely employed in the dry cleaning business, andconstituting, per se, no part of the present invention.

Extending from the outlet fittings 28, 30 are supply lines 32, 34respectively. Line 32 is connected to a connecting pipe 36, while line34 is connected to a similar connecting pipe 38. Pipes 36, 38 haveconnections to check valves 40, 42 respectively which are designed toprevent the backflow of fluid through the lines, to the tanks 24, 26respectively.

Lines 36, 38, downstream from the valves 40, 42, extend into confluenceat a T 44, with the fluid thus passing into a line 46, connected at itsoutlet end in communication with one of a pair of side-by-side hoses 48,50. Line 46, as shown in Figure 1, is connected to the hose 50, bothhoses extending to a spray gun 52, which may be any of various wellknown guns, as for example, a Cissell gun. Other guns are commerciallyavailable, it being mainly important that the gun be of a type that willdirect a finely controlled spray, and that will break up fluid enteringthe gun into droplets or into a vaporous substance, prior to dischargeunder pressure from the gun.

Designated at 56, 58 are steam and air supply lines, respectively,through which steam and air are supplied under pressure from suitablesources, not shown.

Lines 56, 58 are connected with quick-opening, selfclosing valves 60, 62respectively. Connected to the outlet of valve 60 is a line 64 throughwhich the steam passes, with a line 66 extending from the outlet of thevalve 62. At the outlet of line 64, there is provided a check valve 68,preventing backfiow through line 64, and to the outlet of valve 68 thereis connected a line 69 through which a choice of steam or air may bedirected to the gun. A check valve 70 is provided in line 69, with line66 extending to the inlet of the valve 70, the outlet of valve 70 beingconnected to the line 69 by a suitable fitting 71.

By reason of this arrangement, it will be seen that backflow throughlines 64, 66 is prevented by the check valves 68, 70 respectively.Further, it will be noted that one can lziave a choice of steam or airby opening valve 60 or 6 Line 69 is connected at its outlet end to hose48, as shown in Figure l.

A support bar 72 is provided for the valves and the steam and the airsupply lines.

A horizontal pipe 74 is provided with a relief valve 76. Connected tothe other end of the line 74 is a bleeder line 78 extending from thetanks 24, 26.

Mounted on the upper ends of the tanks are filler valves 80, 82respectively.

As will be noted, the line 78 is connected to one end of a conectingline 83, to the other end of which is connected a line 84 extendingupwardly into communication with one side of a valve 86, to the otherside of which is connected a line 88 extending between valve 86 and line58. Connecting line or tube 83 has communication, through dependingbranches 89, with the interiors of the respective tanks 24, 26. Line 84comprises a high pressure line or tube, in a manner to be described indetail hereinafter.

A line 90 is connected between line 66 and a tube 91. A spotting top andpan assembly 92 is mounted upon post 22, and would have a foraminous topthrough which air would be drawn when vacuum is created in line 90, theperforated, hollow assembly 92 being in communication with a pipe orcasing 93 within which suction line 91 is extended. In other words, oncreation of a vacuum in line 90, suction line 91 creates a suctionwithin the pipe 93, since line 91 would be in communication with theinterior of the pipe 93. This will in turn create a suction within thehollow assembly 92, so that excess fluid sprayed onto a garmentsupported upon the assembly 92 will be pulled out through line 93. Theexcess fluid, of course, would be a relatively small quantity, and wouldcomprise merely that fluid sprayed onto the garment that passes throughthe garment. This is a relatively inconsequential amount, since thespray permits accurate control and does not produce a situation in whichone may spray an extensive amount of fluid upon the garment.

At 94 there has been designated a drain for the top pan assembly. Thismay be connected in communication with a suitable drain line or tube,not shown.

The reference numeral 96 has been applied to a generally conventionalbasket, formed as a wide, shallow, upwardly opening channel and havingthe usual flexible panel 97 of canvas or similar material, carried byarms 98 the ends of which are turned downwardly with said arms beingsecured to post 22 or any other suitable portion of the device, byreason of a transversely extending connecting portion 99 connectedbetween the depending end portions of the arms 98. Connecting portion 99may extend in back of post 22 and be fixedly connected thereto in anysuitable manner. This, of course, represents a detail of constructionwhich does not affect in any way the successful practicing of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

Referring now to Figure 2, where the relationship and functional andstructural characteristics of the several valves 76, 86, 60 and 62 isshown, it will be noted that valve 62 is opened and closed by a leverarm 102, pivoted upon a bracket carried by the valve casing. The leverarm 102, when rocked counterclockwise in Figures 2 and 3, opens thenormally closed valve 62.

The lever arm 100 is rockably mounted upon the housing of the steaminlet valve 60, and when rocked similarly to lever arm 102, opens saidvalve 60.

A lever arm 104 is disposed below the housing of the relief valve 76,rocking upon a depending bracket arm 105 carried by said valve housing,as shown in Figure 2. The arm 104 extends substantially perpendicularlyto the other valve operating arms, and as a means for opening the valve86, there is provided a lever mm 106, rockably mounted upon the housingof valve 86 in the same man ner as the arms 100, 102.

The arm 106 is pivotally connected at 107 to a lateral extensionprovided upon the upper end of a vertically disposed, elongated,valve-operating rod 108. Rod 108, a short distance downwardly from itsupper end, has a earn projection 110, provided by a U-shaped metal strapwelded or otherwise fixedly secured to and projecting laterally from therod 108, the arms or side portions of said U-shaped strap carrying across member 111 which is adapted to engage the distal end of the lever104.

A second valve-operating rod 114 extends in parallel, closely spacedrelation to the rod 108, and a short distance downwardly from its upperend has a projection 116 similar to the projection 110. Projection 116underlies the distal end of the lever 100. A short distance downwardlyfrom the projection 116, there is provided a trip lever pin 118, in theform of a nose-like, triangular head underlying the distal end of thelever 102 (see Figure 2). Head or pin 118 is integrally formed upon theupper end of an arm 119, vertically disposed in a slot formed in therod. On the lower end of the rod 119 there is a forwardly projectingportion 120. Ann 119 is rockably mounted upon a pin 121 extending acrossthe slot of the rod 114.

By reason of this arrangement, the device is readily controlled byoperation of pedals extending from bar 23. Referring to Figure 3,pivotally connected to the lower ends of the rods 108, 114 are links orradial arms 11 2, 122 respectively. Pedals 124, 126 are adapted to rockthe links for the purpose of imparting vertical movement in an upwarddirection to the rods 108, 114. Thus, pedal 124 will be secured to asleeve or collar, sleeved upon the horizontal bar 23, and of course in amanner well known in the art, the sleeve is caused to rotate responsiveto depression of the pedal 124, said sleeve being rigid with the link112 so that on rotation of the sleeve, responsive to depression of pedal124, rod 108 is shifted upwardly.

Rod 114 is required to have straight line, vertical movement by reasonof its extension through suitable guides provided on the frame. Theguides can of course be provided upon any rigid members extendingadjacent the rods, as for example, the pipe 69, pipe 46, and base bar11.

Further, the pivotal connection between the rod 108 and link 112 issufiiciently loose to permit the vertical movement of the rod eventhough the outer end of the link or arm 112 is traveling in an arcuatepath when the link swings upwardly.

Pedal 126 is secured to a second sleeve, which may extend within thesleeve to which pedal 124 is secured. Thus, pedal 124 is secured to asleeve 128, while pedal 126 is secured to a sleeve 130, sleeve or collar130 extending through sleeve 128 and in turn receiving and rotating uponthe bar 23. Sleeve 130 would project beyond the sleeve 128, and isrigidly secured to the arm 122 so that depression of pedal 126 willcause upward swinging movement of arm 122, in turn producing verticalupward movement of rod 114.

Considering now the operational characteristics of the device, it is tobe noted that in the discharge of the particular functions for which themachine is intended, 'one may find it necessary, for example, to spray amixture of solvent, soap and water. In this event, one would depresspedal 124. Depression of this pedal causes upward movement of rod 108.Before the upward movement of rod 108, its projection 110 would havebeen in overlying relation to lever arm 104 of relief valve 76 as shownin Figure 3. Therefore, it holds relief valve operating arm 104 in valveopening position.

The upward movement of the rod 108 thus elevates projection 110, andpermits the self-closing valve 76 to close, with lever arm 104 nowturning, during the closing of the valve 76, in a counterclockwisedirection, viewing the same as in Figure 3.

Simultaneously with this action, arm 106 is also rocked counterclockwisein Figure 3 by reason of its pivotal connection to the upper end to therod 108. As the rod 108 moves upwardly, arm 106 rocks counterclockwise,opening valve 86. Air under pressure is thus permitted to flow throughline 88 from line 58, said line 58 extending, as previously noted, froma source of said air under pressure.

The air under pressure flows through the now opened valve 86, into thesmall diameter, high pressure air line 84. The air passes through line84 into connecting line 83, and then enters tanks 24 and 26 through thebranches 89. Air is also forced through line 78 and thence into line 74.It travels, in line 74, to the new closed bleeder or relief valve 76.

The forcing of air under pressure into the tank 26 displaces the liquid,comprising a mixture of solvent and dry cleaning soap, within tank 26,forcing the same upwardly through line 34, line 38, valve 42, and intoline 46. The forcing of air under pressure into tank '24 causes thedisplacement of water from tank 24 with the water being forced upwardlythrough lines 32, 36, and through check valve 40 into the line 46. Thewater is thus mixed with the solvent and soap, and the mixture isdirected in liquid form through the hose 50 to the gun 52, where it isdispersed or broken up into a vaporous or misty form, and so sprayedonto the garment.

The dispensing of the spray is stopped by release of pedal As a result,rod 108 moves downwardly,

projection 110 as a result bears once again on the lever arm 104,rocking arm 104 clockwise in Figure 3 to a position causing relief valve76 to open.

Assuming that one were to find a need of spraying steam or air, thepedal 126 is depressed halfway to its lowermost position. Of course,steam is used for re moving spots that take more moisture than can begiven with a soap, gas, and water formula. The air is usedto dry thegarment after the use of steam. The air is also used to blow soil out ofgarments when one is brushring out with the mentioned formula such spotsas paint or heavy grease.

To dispense air or steam, as previously noted the pedal 126 is depressedhalfway. Therefore, rod 114 is shifted upwardly, causing the nose-likeprojection 118 to bear upwardly against arm 102. This opens valve 62permitting air under pressure to pass through line58 and valve 62 intothe vacuum line 90. The air creates a vacuum in the pan assembly, as aresult.

At the same time, air passes from valve 62 into line 66, travelingthrough check valve 70 into the line 69 and thence to the gun 52.

Depression of pedal 126 the remaining portion 'of its travel fully tothe floor or supporting surface S is the next step, and this causes rod114 to travel upwardly still further, the rod sliding in a guide 132projecting from the connecting fitting 134 attached to valve 62. Red114, now traveling upwardly through theremaining half of its upwardmovement, shifts projection 116 upwardly into engagement with lever arm'100. This rocks lever counterclockwise in Figure 3. Valve 60 thereforeopens, and steam under pressure passes through line .56 into line 64.The steam travels through check valve 68 into line 69, to be dischargedfrom the gun S2. The air valve is closed at this time. of course, therod 114 drops to its normal, Figure 3 position, so that the valves 60,62 automatically close with their arms disposed ready for rocking on thenext elevation of the rod. The arm 119, as will be readily noted, is soformed Ithat'during the mentioned remaining half of the upward movementof the rod 114, the projection 118 slips Ipa'st the lever 102, which ofcourse was previously fully rocke'd counterclockwise in Figure 3 to itsvalve-opening'po'sition.

Then, when rod 114 drops, the obliquely 'dispose'd"o'r sloped undersideof the projection 118 is simply carnm'eii to the right in Figure 3 bythe lever 102, with arm 1119 rocking to permit the projection to movedownwardly into its normal position below the distal end of the arm 102.l

The construction provides for maximum control of a prespottingoperation, that is, maximum control off'the operation of spottingclothes before they are dry cleaned or for spotting reruns after theyhave been cleaned. I

As will be seen, the machine permits spray of steamer air, or a mixtureof solvent, soap, and water. Further, the machine will spray the mixtureof solvent and soap alone, without the water, since one can close the"valve 128 completely whenever desired, the result of which will be thatthe subsequent depression of pedal 124' will permit displacement ofliquid only from the tank 26.

A further important characteristic of the invention re"- sides in thefact that there is always complete control of the formula to be sprayedfrom the gun. 'Thisis'due 'to the arrangement wherein the water is notmixe'dwith the solvent and soap until these liquids are out fo'f thetanks and are enroute torthe gun. This is distinguished from previousarrangements in machines for the This bleeds the air under pressurevfrom the tanks 24, 26, preventing said tanks through On release of pedal126,

general purpose, which previous arrangements have incorporated the waterwith the solvent and soap within the tank, the disadvantage being thatwater tends to settle to the bottom of the tank, rather than remainfully intermixed with the solvent and soap.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confinedto the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may beutilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the inventionto be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrativeof the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehendsany minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A pre-spotting machine comprising: a support frame; a pair of tanksmounted upon the frame, one of said tanks being adapted to hold waterand the other tank being adapted to hold a mixture of solvent and soap;

a dispensing gun; means providing communication between the respectivetanks and the dispensing gun; a line extending from a source of airunder pressure into communication with the respective tanks; means foradmitting air under pressure into the tanks through said air pressureline, to displace liquid from the tanks and force the same to the gun,the means providing communication be tween the tanks and gun comprisingindividual lines extending from the respective tanks, and a common lineconnected to the individual lines from the tanks, requiring mixture ofthe water with the solvent and soap exteriorly of the tanks, enroute tothe gun following displacement of the tank contents responsive to theadmission of air under pressure thereto; means for supplying steam underpressure to said gun, comprising a valve controlling flow through thesteam supply means, and a pedal-operated assembly for opening the valveunder the control of a worker, said pedal assembly including a pedalrockably mounted upon the frame, a vertically shiftable rod having amotion-translating connection to the pedal resulting in verticalmovement of the rod responsive to depression of the pedal, a projectionon the rod, and a valve operating arm biased by the project-ion to avalve opening position responsive to upward movement of the rod; and asecond pedal assembly and valve for controlling the admission of airunder pressure, the second valve assembly including a second pedalswingably mounted upon the frame, a second rod mounted upon the framefor vertical movement in closely spaced relation to the first rod, anair inlet valve including a valve operating arm, and a projection on thesecond rod engageable with the arm of the air inlet valve to rock thesame to a valve opening position responsive to depression of the secondpedal, the first pedal assembly being arranged to control the admissiononly of air under pressure to the tanks, the second pedal assemblyincluding a plurality of projections on the second rod, one operatingthe steam inlet valve arm and the other operating a second air inletvalve arm, the last named projections engaging their respective arms infollowing order during successively following stages of the upwardmovements of the second rod with each projection engaging its arm whilethe other projection is disengaged from its arm, so as to cause theadmission of air through the second air valve, and the admission ofsteam through the steam inlet valve, each independently of the other.

2. A pre-spotting machine comprising: a support frame; at least onecleaning liquid tank mounted thereon; a compressed air line extending tosaid tank from a source of air under pressure; a dispensing gun; aliquid discharge line extending from the tank to the gun, whereby liquidwill be forced to the gun through the liquid discharge line responsiveto the flow of air under pressure into the tank; an air discharge lineby-passing the tank and extending to the gun from said source of airunder pressure; a steam line extending from a steam-produm ing source tosaid gun; normally closed valves in the steam, compressed air, and airdischarge lines respective: ly, each valve including a rockable arm foropening the same; first and second operating rods mounted on the framefor movement by a user in the direction of their lengths from rest tooperating positions, the first rod, having a connection to thecompressed air valve arm efiective to rock the same to valve-openingposition on movement of the first rod from its rest to its operatingposition; and spaced projections on the second rod disposed adjacent andengageable with the air discharge and steam valve arms respectively onshifting of the second rod from its rest position, one of theprojections engaging its adjacent valve arm to rock the same tovalve-opening position responsive to an initial movement of the secondrod from its rest position with the other projection free of engagementfrom its adjacent valve arm, said other projection engaging and rockingto a valve-open ing position the arm adjacent thereto with said oneprojection free of its adjacent arm, responsive to further movement ofthe second rod from its rest position.

3. A pie-spotting machine comprising: a support frame; at least onecleaning liquid tank mounted thereon; a compressed air line extending tosaid tank from a source of air under pressure; a dispensing gun; aliquid discharge line extending from the tank to the gun, whereby liquidwill be forced to the gun through the liquid discharge line responsiveto the flow of air under pressure into the tank; an air discharge lineby-passing the tank and extending to the gun from said source of airunder pressure; a steam line extending from a steam-producing source tosaid gun; normally closed valves in the steam, compressed air, and airdischarge lines respectively, each valve including a rockable arm foropening the same; first and second operating rods mounted on the framefor movement by a user in the direction of their lengths from rest tooperating positions, the first rod having a connection to the compressedair valve arm effective to rock the same to valve-opening position onmovement of the first rod from its rest to its operating position; anair bleeder line extending from the tank to relieve the same of airunder pressure; a normally open air relief valve mounted in said bleederline and normally opening the same to atmosphere, said relief valveincluding a rockable operating arm; a projection on the first roddisposed to engage the relief valve arm in the rest position of thefirst rod and holding the same in valve-opening position, saidprojection disengaging from the relief valve arm on movement of thefirst rod from its rest position to permit closing of the relief valvewhen the compressed air valve is opened; and spaced projections on thesecond rod disposed adjacent and engageable with the air discharge andsteam valve arms respectively on shifting of the second rod from itsrest position, one of the projections of the second rod engaging itsadjacent valve arm to rock the same to valve-opening position responsiveto an initial movement of the second rod from its rest position with theother projection of the second rod free of engagement with its adjacentvalve arm, said other projection of the second rod engaging and rockingto a valve-open ing position the arm adjacent thereto with said oneprojection of the second rod free of its adjacent arm, responsive tofurther movement of the second rod from its rest position.

4. A pre-spotting machine as in claim 3 wherein said one projection ofthe second rod is rockably supported thereon in position to disengageand move beyond the valve arm adjacent thereto during said furthermovement of the second rod, and thereafter be temporarily rocked by itsadjacent valve arm out of the path of movement thereof during the returnmovement of the second rod to a rest position.

5. A pre-spotting machine comprising: a support frame; a water tank anda liquid solvent-and-soap tank mounted on said frame; a compressed airline extending from a source of air under pressure to both tanks; adispensing gun; a first discharge line extending to said gun and havingconnections to both tanks, whereby liquid will be forced from both ofsaid tanks, mixed in said first discharge line, and dispensed from thegun responsive to the direction of air under pressure to the tanksthrough the compressed air line; a second discharge line extending tothe gun; connecting lines respectively extending from the air source andfrom a source of steam under pressure to the second discharge line, toprovide steam and air conduits from said sources to the gun by-passingthe tanks; normally closed compressed air, air discharge, and steamdischarge valves mounted in the compressed air line, air sourceconnecting line, and steam source connecting line, respectively, eachvalve including a rockable arm for opening the same; first and secondoperating rods mounted on the frame for movement by a user in thedirection of their lengths from rest to operating positions, the firstrod having a connection to the compressed air valve arm effective torock the same to valve-opening position on movement of the first rodfrom its rest to its operating position; and spaced projections on thesecond rod dia- 10 posed adjacent the air discharge and steam dischargevalve arms respectively, and engaging the same on shifting of the secondrod from its rest position, one of the projections engaging its adjacentvalve arm to rock the same to valve-opening position responsive to aninitial movement of the second rod from its rest position, with theother projection free of engagement with its adjacent valve arm, saidother projection engaging and rocking to a valve-opening position thearm adjacent thereto with said one projection free of its adjacent arm,responsive to further movement of the second rod from its rest position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS927,549 Kezer July 13, 1909 2,340,832 Damme Feb. 1, 1944 2,455,755Glover Dec. 7, 1948 2,455,756 Glover Dec. 7, 1948 2,602,315 Shoop July8, 1952 2,686,694 Freeman Aug. 17, 1954 2,707,874 Glover May 10, 19552,807,503 Buterbaugh Sept. 24, 1957

